Rimless eyeglasses

ABSTRACT

The invention is a bridge structure for rimless glasses that includes a rear bridge portion, a front bridge portion; and fastening means for fastening the rear bridge portion to the front bridge portion. Typically, the rear bridge portion is made of plastic and the front bridge portion is made of metal, usually titanium.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/660,482 filed on Mar. 8, 2005, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of eyewear design.

2. Description of the Related Art

Rimless eyeglasses are well known in the art. Examples of such designsare shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,896,367, 6,860,597, 6,827,439, and6,793,338. The present invention, however, includes a unique bridgedesign that is structurally sound and attractive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a novel eyewear design. Utilization of theinvention permits construction of rimless glasses that are structurallysound and attractive.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention is a bridge structure forrimless glasses that includes a rear bridge portion, a front bridgeportion; and fastening means for fastening the rear bridge portion tothe front bridge portion. Preferably, the rear bridge portion comprisesplastic and the front bridge portion comprises metal. Titanium is onemetal that can be utilized.

The fastening means can also be constructed to fasten nose pads to thebridge structure. The typical fastening means includes screws and screwreceptors, with the screw receptors residing on the front bridgeportion. Usually, the rear bridge portion is shaped to match the form ofthe front bridge portion and the front bridge portion fits over the rearbridge portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an unassembled bridge design.

FIG. 2 shows the nose pads attached the bridge.

FIG. 3 shows the bridge fully assembled.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of fully assembled glasses according to theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fully assembled glasses.

FIG. 6 is an inverted plan view of the fully assembled glasses.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the fully assembled glasses.

FIG. 8 depicts an assembled bridge with only two screws.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The text, figures and photographs of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/660,482 filed on Mar. 8, 2005, are hereby incorporated in full bythis reference.

FIG. 1 shows the bridge portion of the glasses before the glasses areassembled. FIG. 1 shows a rear portion 1 of the bridge and a frontportion 2 of the bridge. Preferably, the rear portion is constructed ofplastic and the front portion is constructed of metal or metals,preferably titanium. Utilization of a metal in the front bridge portionadds flexibility to the bridge.

Also included in the bridge assembly are four screws (items 3-6) and twonose pads (7 and 8). Screws 3 and 4 extend through nose pad 7 and screws5 and 6 extend through nose pad 8. Note that the front bridge portionincludes four receptors for the screws.

FIG. 2 shows the nose pads attached to the rear portion of the bridge.The rear bridge portion 1 if formed such that there exist four openingsto receive each of the screws.

FIG. 3 shows the bridge assembly assembled. The four screws have beenengaged in the receptors. Preferably, the four receptors are threadedinside to accept and engage the screws. In the preferred embodiment,holes have been formed inside the lenses to accept the screws andreceptors.

Fastening means other than screws, such as bolts and pins, can beutilized. Also, there can be less or more than four screws (or otherfasteners). For example, only two screws might be used for the assembly.Also, the invention can be configured such that not all of the fastenersengage the nose pads. For example, two screws might be used on eachside, with only one screw engaging the associated nose pad.

It is preferred that the form of the rear bridge portion is shaped tomatch the form of the front bridge portion. In the preferred embodiment,the front bridge portion fits over the rear bridge portion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of fully assembled glasses according to theinvention. In this embodiment, there are only two screws used asfastening means. Shown on FIG. 4 is a right lens 10, left lens 11, righttemple 12, left temple 13, the bridge assembly 14, a right nose pad 15and a left nose pad 16.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fully assembled glasses. Shown on FIG. 5are the right lens 10, left lens 11, right temple 12, left temple 13,right nose pad 15 and left nose pad 16. The front bridge portion 17 andthe rear bridge portion 18 are further shown. The bridge portions arefastened by a right fastening screw 19, a right screw receptor 20, aleft fastening screw 21 and a left fastening screw receptor 22. Alsoshown is a right pin 23 extending through the right lens and a left pin24 extending through the left lens. The pins can extend from either thefront bridge portion or the rear bridge portion. Also, a pin can extendfrom one bridge portion, through the lens, and into the other bridgeportion. Additionally, there is a right upper protrusion 25 and a leftupper protrusion 26 on the rear bridge portion. As is discussed morefully below, these protrusions are used to engage and hold the nose padsin place.

FIG. 6 provides an inverted plan view of the fully assembled glasses.Shown on FIG. 6 are the right lens 10, left lens 11, right temple 12,left temple 13, right nose pad 15, left nose pad 16, front bridgeportion 17, rear bridge portion 18, right fastening screw 19, rightscrew receptor 20, left fastening screw 21, left fastening screwreceptor 22, right pin 23, and left pin 24. Additionally, there is aright lower protrusion 27 and a left upper protrusion 28 on the rearbridge portion.

FIG. 7 provides a rear view of the assembled glasses. Shown on FIG. 7are the right lens 10, left lens 11, right temple 12, left temple 13,bridge assembly 14, right nose pad 15, left nose pad 16, right fasteningscrew 19, left fastening screw 21, right upper protrusion 25, left upperprotrusion 26, right lower protrusion 27 and left lower protrusion 28.As can be seen, the nose pad structures are engaged inside theprotrusions to hold the nose pads structures.

FIG. 8 depicts the assembled two-screw bridge (protrusions and lensesare not shown). Shown on FIG. 6 are the right nose pad 15, left nose pad16, front bridge portion 17, rear bridge portion 18, right fasteningscrew 19, right screw receptor 20, left fastening screw 21, leftfastening screw receptor 22, right pin 23, and left pin 24. In thisversion, the pins extend from the front bridge portion into the rearbridge portion.

Thus, although the present invention has been described in detail withregard to the exemplary embodiments thereof and accompanying drawings,it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousadaptations and modifications of the present invention may beaccomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the preciseembodiments shown in the drawings and described above. Rather, it isintended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of theinvention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely bythe claims appended hereto.

1. A bridge structure for rimless glasses comprising: a rear bridgeportion; a front bridge portion; and fastening means for fastening therear bridge portion to the front bridge portion.
 2. The bridge structureof claim 1, wherein the rear bridge portion comprises plastic and thefront bridge portion comprises metal.
 3. The bridge structure of claim1, wherein the front bridge portion comprises titanium.
 4. The bridgestructure of claim 3, wherein the rear bridge portion comprises plasticand the second bridge structure comprises titanium.
 5. The bridgestructure of claim 1, wherein said fastening means also fastens nosepads to the bridge structure.
 6. The bridge structure of claim 1,wherein said fastening means comprises screws and screw receptors. 7.The bridge structure of claim 6, wherein the screw receptors reside onthe front bridge portion.
 8. The bridge structure of claim 6, whereinthe fastening means comprises four screws.
 9. The bridge structure ofclaim 8, wherein said fastening means extends through two nose padsstructures.
 10. The bridge structure of claim 6, wherein the fasteningmeans comprises two screws.
 11. The bridge structure of claim 10,wherein said fastening means extends through two nose pad structures.12. The bridge structure of claim 6, wherein the screw receptors arethreaded inside to accept and engage the screws.
 13. The bridgestructure of claim 1, wherein the rear bridge portion is shaped to matchthe form of the front bridge portion.
 14. The bridge structure of claim13, wherein the front bridge portion fits over the rear bridge portion.15. Eyeglasses comprising: a bridge structure, said bridge structurecomprising a rear bridge portion, a front bridge portion, and fasteningmeans for fastening the rear bridge portion to the front bridge portion;a first lens fastened to the bridge structure; and a second lensfastened to the bridge structure.
 16. The eyeglasses of claim 15,wherein the rear bridge portion comprises plastic and the front bridgeportion comprises metal.
 17. The eyeglasses of claim 16, wherein thefront bridge portion comprises titanium.
 18. The eyeglasses of claim 15,wherein the rear bridge portion comprises plastic and the front bridgeportion comprises titanium.
 19. The eyeglasses of claim 17, wherein saidfastening means also fastens nose pads to the bridge structure.
 20. Theeyeglasses of claim 15, wherein said fastening means comprises screwsand screw receptors.
 21. The eyeglasses of claim 20, wherein the screwreceptors reside on the second bridge structure.
 22. The eyeglasses ofclaim 21, wherein at least one of the screw receptors extends throughthe right lens.
 23. The eyeglasses of claim 20, wherein the fasteningmeans comprises four screws.
 24. The eyeglasses of claim 23, whereinsaid fastening means extends through two nose pad structures.
 25. Theeyeglasses of claim 20, wherein the fastening means comprises twoscrews.
 26. The eyeglasses of claim 25, wherein said fastening meansextends through two nose pad structures.
 27. The eyeglasses of claim 20,wherein the screw receptors are threaded inside to accept and engage thescrews.
 28. The eyeglasses of claim 15, wherein the rear bridge portionis shaped to match the form of the front bridge portion.
 29. Theeyeglasses of claim 28, wherein the front bridge portion fits over therear bridge portion.
 30. The eyeglasses of claim 15, wherein saidfastening means also connects the right lens and left lens to the bridgestructure.
 31. The eyeglasses of claim 26, wherein the fastening meanscomprises a plurality of fastening structures, such that half of theplurality of fastening structures fasten the right lens to the bridgestructure and the other half fasten the left lens to the bridgestructure.
 32. The eyeglasses of claim 27, wherein the plurality offastening structures comprises screws.